NEED FOR NUMBERING

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1934, Page 10

NEED FOR NUMBERING

ISSUE OF PROGRAMMES INTEREST IN COMPETITION. CONFUSION OVER COLOURS.

(By

“Side-Row.”)

When are arrangements to be made for players in all teams to be numbered and for programmes to be issued at the principal grounds ? The need is greater this season than for years past. One or two teams are numbered, but even so it is difficult for the public to know which is which when there are no programmes. The match .at Pukekura Park between Empire and Star last Saturday was a typical case. Star was numbered, but Empire was not, and as the latter team was strange to many of the spectators, few knew any of the players before or after the match. It should be possible for club selectors to know their sides by the Thursday of each week. If the Rugby Union first of all insisted upon all teams being numbered, it should be possible to provide programmes.

Competition Results. If the public was slightly apathetic when the season started, by now its interest is remarkable. Not for years has a competition, created so great an interest among both players and the public, and the indications are that the interest will grow with the competition. Okaiawa heads the list at present, but the team has not shown outstanding form, and it will be surprising if it does not meet its match soon. Tukapa, second on the list, was unfortunate in more ways than one in the match against Eltham, though the fact remains that the latter side is at present one of the best in the competition. Several other teams are in close attendance, and altogether the competition bears an open aspect. Question of Jerseys.

There was some confusion at Eltham on Saturday between Eltham’s black and white and Tukapa’s blue and white. There will be a similar situation at Okaiawa on Saturday, when Okaiawa’s red and dark blue meets the Stratford red and black, and later in the season Star has to meet Kaponga at New Plymouth—both in black. Complaints were loud on the banks at Eltham on Saturday, and in the interests of the game it would seem, wise that arrangements should be made/-for contrasting colours when necessary.